Enclosed switch



4 vsheets-sheet 1 IN VEN TOR E. W. LANDMEIER ENCLOSED SWITCH Filed Aug. '7, 1943 July 16, 1946.

July 16, 1946 E w., LANDMEn-:R

ENCLOSED swITcH F11-'ea Aug. '7, 194:5

4 sheets-sheet 2 I l l l LNH INVENTOR Edwin lkarzamelr IN VEN TORa 4 sheets-sheet l;

July 16, 1946- E. w. LANDMEn-:R

ENCLOSED SWITCH Filed Aug. 7, 1945 July 15, 1945- E. w. LANDMEIER 2,4(l)4,183

ENCLOSED SWITCH Filed Aug. 7, 1945 4 sheets-Sheet@ IN VEN T 0R. [dwirz M( andmezkr @Mw/AMM special cabinet construction in meeting Patented July 16, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT oFElcE ENCLOSED SWITCH Edwin W. Landmeier, Erlanger, Ky., assigner to The Wadsworth Electric Manufacturing Company, Covington, Ky., a corporation of Kentucky Application August 7, 1943, Serial No. 497,835

6 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to enclosed switches including the general class wherein the movable contacts are actuated by a pivoted or rotary member and has for an object the provision of a simple sliding actuator operable from the exterior of the cabinet for operating such an enclosed switch.

A further object of the invention is to provide an externally operated slide of the class referred to which is adapted to provide for front-operated switch cabinets as well as side-operated switch cabinets, and which is well adapted to cabinets having an interlock between the switch actuator and the cabinet door or the fuse compartment door, or both of them.

`Still another object of the invention is to provide an arrangement of this character that is easily and inexpensively adapted to meet the varying requirements of the customer regarding the interlocking of the switch operation with the switch enclosing cabinet.

It is also an object to provide for any and all of the aforesaid features with a few inexpensive stamped metal parts and at the same time to eliminate to a large degree the necessity of the requirements at hand. i

These and other objects are attained by themeans described herein and disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an enclosed 'switch embodying the invention, partly broken and partly shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 22ofFig.1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional View taken on line `3--3 of Fig. 1. 'v

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the actuator slide formingadetail of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a fragmental cross-sectional view showing the mode of adapting the'device ofthe Ainvention to a side-operated switch box;

Fig. 6 is a plan View showing thearrangement of the actuator of the-invention with an interlock on the fuse compartment door.

Fig. "I is a cross-sectional viewtaken on line l--l of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on line s-a of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a fragmental plan view of the inside of the cabinet door of Fig. 6.v

Fig. l0 is a perspective view of the actuator slide of Fig. 6.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of a switch cabinet showing in dotted lines a modied form of inter- 2 lock between the fuse door and the switch actuator slide.

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional View taken on line |2|2 ofFig.11.

Fig. 1:3' is a cross-sectional View taken on line l3--I 3 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional View taken on line |4|4 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 15 is a fragmental plan view of the inside of the cabinet door of Fig. l2. i

Fig. 16 isa fragmental plan view showing a cabinet in open position and embodying the invention, wherein the actuator slide is carried by a bracket xed in the cabinet.

`Fig. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken on line I'l-Il of Fig. 16.

Heretofore a large` variety of externally operated enclosed switches has been known and each has entailed special cabinet construction to meet the different customers requirements and to accommodate the selected rotary switch.

By the present invention I have provided a simple means whereby the various kinds of switches including those with rotary operated moving contact assemblies may be actuated by a simple slide which will actuate any of the moving contact assemblies. The rotary type of moving contact mounting is by far the most commonly used in the art so that the present invention has a very wide range of adaptability in the art. One of the important advantages of the invention is its easy and inexpensive adaptability in making front-operated enclosed switches using ordinary simple cabinets and practically any make of switch of the commonly used type as aforesaid. Front-operated switches are capable of closely ganged installation and are extremely advantageous in places `where space is limited.

Reference is now made lto Figs. l, 2, and 3, wherein a switch box 20 of any desired construction has a front opening door 2| hinged thereto. The door is slotted longitudinally for a distance near the latch side at 22"to` define the path and the limits of movement of a suitable external handle or knob 23, the shank member 24 of which extends through said slot 22 and is secured to an in the actuator slide 25. Rigidly fixed to the slide 25 is a depending member 29 having an aperture or slot 30 which receives an angularly disposed pin 3| of a crank arm 32 whereby the rotary moving contact assembly of a switch 33 is operated, The switch illustrated by way of example is of the construction shown in my United States Patent Number 2,255,669 oi September 9, 1941,'but the invention herein is not to be considered as limited in any respects to the particular switch.

The switch 33 is secured within the box in any suitable manner as, for example, by fastening the switch base to the back wall by screws.

The crank bar 34 is suitably journalled for rotary motion in simple brackets 35 which, in this case, are secured to the back wall .of the box by means of screws St. The crank arm 32 may be removably applied to the crank bar by passing a rectangular portion of the bar, intermediate the journalled mountings, through a correspondingly shaped aperture in the arm. The switch, as shown, is of the quick-break type, the spring 3l which is connected to pin 3l being arranged, in known manner, to become tensioned during the initial movement of the crank arm `32 to quickly interposed between member il@ of the slide andthe crank arm or if desired the Vcrank arm ymay be completely subject yto manual operation through the slide.

From the foregoing description it will be un.. derstood that the :moving contacts 38carried by the arms 39 will assume the position ,shown in Fig. 2 when the slide 25 vis in the position shown in full lines, and kthat vwhen said slide is moved longitudinally vuntil the handle 23 assumes the dotted line position shown, ysaid contacts will each complete an electrical circuit through a pair cf contacts til-iii (see also Fig. l).

.An interlock between the switch actuating mechanism and the door Sli `is inexpensively provided bynxing an angle piece 62 4to the latch-side wall-of the cabinet 20 so located that, whenslide 255 is in the upper or"on position, `an offset lug vor flange ,li-3 on the slide will assume a position directly beneath the projecting lug or flange il or theangle piece Il? and thus preventopeningof door 2l until the slide is moved to its opposite limit of movement and the switch has assumed an off position, (see Fig. l). Once lthe door has been opened while the switch -is in a safe (off) conditiondtis'of c ourse'possible to again close the switch in order to make Aroutine meter ltestsand inspections. -A suitable door latchlt is provided.

In Fig. the invention is shown adapted to a side-operated switch actuator, the parts being only slightly modified and reversed in their respective -mountings That `is to say the guide flanges 25B are mounted von opposite sides of a slot 22! in the sidewall ZEG of the box and the slide 255). reciprocable therein by a handle 23e, has nxed thereto a memberi with spaced apart lugs .2% and lll-lll. The lug 29B is slotted (like member 29 of Fig. 4) and receives the crank arm 328, Thelug i3-0 moves along the inner face of the switch box door Zit when the latter is closed, and assumes a position above vthe lug 440 on said door when the slide 250 is in switch closing position.

Reference is now made to Figs. r6-10 inclusive, which are illustrative of -one form ofthe invention lwith van `interlock with -a `ruse -door mounted on the cabinet door to preclude opening of the fuse door while the switch is closed Under these conditions the cabinet door is customarily sealed in any suitable manner so that the customer may have access to the fuses but not to the remainder of the interior of the cabinet.

This form of the invention involves no major change of structure or function over the device of Fig. 1 Ain the means for eiiecting operation of the switch from the face of the switch box door.

The slide 259e has an extended rib 46 with a slot lll to receive the pin 3i in crank arm 32 of .the switch' 33 to operate the switch as the slide is reciprocated by the handle i8 on the outer face of the slotted cover 49.

The cabinet cover 49 has an opening 56 controlled .by a hingedly mounted fuse door 5I which provides access to fuse compartment 52 within the box. This fuse door has on its inner face a spaced away lug 53 forming a way into which a flange 54 on rib it of the slide enters when the slide is in switch closing position thereby pre venting opening of the fuse door without first moving the switch to an oli position. A suitable snap latch 55 having a ring handle 5.5i on the outside of fuse door 5i serves to hold the fuse door closed and a resilient latch lug 5l fastened .on the sidewall of the switch box and operating :through a slo-t in the switch 4box door 49 holds the latter closed. Asecond interlock to prevent movevnient of slide 25% from an off position to an on position when the fuse door is open is optionally provided, by pivotally mounting an L- shaped latch member 53 on the inside face of cover @il with an end extending across the top of fuse door opening Eil, An inclined faced lug ES on `the fuse .door 5i is so mounted that during the i'inal closing movement of door 5|, the lug 5S engages the arm ii@ of lr shaped latch member 58 near the end of the arm and ,moves said latch member 53 about its pivotal mounting to thereby withdraw the latch iinger end 6| from its vseat in a notch 62 in slide 25S@ against the yielding pressure of a spring t3. The latch 58 thus holds the slide 25d@ in its off position `while the fuse door is open but is automatically released by the act of closing the `fuse door. It

-will also be remembered that the fuse door is latched against opening when -the slide is in the on position.

In Figs. 11-15 there is vshown a modified form of interlock controlled by the .front-operated switch actuator slide. yIn this embodiment the switch box cover E4 has a fuse door opening 65 therein, controlled by a hinged fusedoor This door has on its rear face a keeper'l `located just below the top edge to receive the lower edge B8 of a T-shaped bar which is pivotedat 'it on the switch' box cover. Bar 69 is biasedby spring 'il to urge the edge S5 into keeper 'i. The actuator slide .is reciprocable in the manner previously described, and has its lower end 73 arranged to .depress the adjacent top edge of bar Si) for rocking it onfitsfpivot and thus lifting theedget out of keeper @l to permit.openingI ofithe fusedoor by its latch and ring structure indicatedgenerally le. (See Figs. 1i and 15). The interlock between the actuator slide Yi2 and thervfuse :door 65 comprises a latch member l5 pivoted, intermediate its ends on a pin or stud ,l' andhavingnJ coil spring ''l surrounding fthe stud land suitably attached'to the latch and cover respectively to bias the latch for rotating movement on its pivot in an anti-clockwise direction as viewed infig. l5. Theupperipart of the latch member is Inotched to operate the selected rotary or pivote@ crank l0 arm of e, switch, for example, it may engage the crank pin 3! on a crank 32 of a switch 33 similar to those heretofore described and illustrated.

In the modified structure exempliiied in Figs. i6 and 17 the actuator slide is reciprocably mounted in guides B3 which are secured to the bottom face of a slotted ilange de of a bracket E35. This bracket is rigidly secured to the sidewall 85 ci a switch cabinet 8'! so that the upper face of ilange 84 is immediately beneath the inside of the cabinet cover 3b when the latter is closed (see Fig. 17). The actuating handle or knob E3 is fixed to the actuator slide in any approved manner, for example as hereinbefore described, and operates in the slot 923 oi bracket M at all times. The cover 83 has a slot ill with an enlargement E2 at the lower end thereof, which end defines the oli position limit of movement of the actuator slide. The enlargement S2 is capable of passing over the knob or handle Sii when the slide is in the on position. This permits opening and closing oi' the cabinet cover when the switch is in the ofi position. In all other positions 01"' the slide. the closed cabinet cover is incapable of being opened. The slotted member or yoke 93 on the slide imparts rocking movement to the moving contact crank 32 by engaging the pin or stud 3i thereof in the previously described manner. In this embodiment, as in all others the particular kind oi switch employed is entirely a matter of choice. The size and shape oi the handle or knob for the slide will be governed largely by the size of the switch structure and by choice of design as in a,ll of the previously described embodiments and in addition to this the enlargement 92 will of necessity be of e, size and shape that will pass over the selected knob or handle.

The term rotary switch as used herein includes any switch structure having a moving contact assembly which is actuated by a rotary or pivoted member.

What is claimed is:

l. In an enclosed externally operated switch the combination of a switch cabinet including a movable door, a rotary switch mounted therein, an actuator slide member guidedly mounted on the door oi the switch cabinet, a yoke element having an open ended 'slot on one side of the slide for removably engaging and operating the switch, and a handle piece fixed to and projectiing from the other side of the slide, said cabinet door having a rectilinear slot defining the limits of movement of said slide member at the oi and on positions of the switch and permitting disposition of the handle on the exterior of the box and said yoke in the interior of the box when the door is closed.

2. An enclosed switch comprising a cabinet, a switch therein including a rotary member rockable about an axis for actuating the switch, a slide reciprocably mounted for movement parallel with a wall or" the cabinet, said wall having a rectilinear slot therein which is closed by said slide at all times, a yoke lxed on the slide and having a slot for engaging the rotary member for rocking the same as the slide is moved, a handle stud rigidly mounted on the slide projecting through the slot defining the limits of movement of the slide at the oit an on positions of the switch.

3. An enclosed switch comprising a cabinet, a switch in the cabinet including a rockable oplerating member, guides xed interiorly of the cabinet alongside said switch operating member, a slide having rectlinear movement in the guides, a yoke fixed on the slide for removably connecting said operating member and said slide whereby the operating member is rocked in opposits directions by the slide, the cabinet having a rectilinear slot closed by said slide and adapted tol define the limits of movement of the slide, and a handle stud nxed in the slide and extending through the slot for cooperation therewith in limiting the movement oi said slide.

ll. An enclosed switch comprising a cabinet having a rectilinear slot therein, a switch mounted in the cabinet and including a rotatably mounted member rockable about an axis between imite for opening and closing said switch, a slide reciprocably mounted over said Slot Within the cabinet adjacent said member, a crank pin on said member, a yoke iixed to the slide and loosely embracing the crank pin, and a manually operable stud fixed on the slide and extending accessibly through the slot for cooperation therewith in limiting manual reciprocation of the slide at the off and on positions of the switch.

5. An enclosed 'switch comprising a cabinet having a door with a rectilinear slot adjacent the latch side thereof, a rotary switch mounted in the cabinet and having a rockable member disposed wholly within the cabinet for operating the switch, a crank pin in said member, a slide reciprocably mounted on the inside face of the door over the slot in the door, a handle stud accessible from the outside of the door and xed in the Slide through said slot and positively limiting the manual reciprocation of the slide at the on and on positions of the switch, a yoke xed on the slide and having an open ended slot for receiving the crank pin therein during the closing of the door when the switch is in ofi position, an offset lug on the slide, and a ange member fixed to the cabinet and lying in a plane intermediate the inside face of the cabinet door and thev offset lug, said flange being located in a position such that it is superposed over the offset lug when the slide is moved to switch closing position.

6. In a front operated enclosed switch the combination of a cabinet including a hinged door, a slide reciprocably mounted in a plane parallel to and adjacent said door in its closed position, the door having a slot longitudinally of the slide, a handle slidable on the outer face of the door and xed to the slide through the slot in the door, a rotary switch mounted in the cabinet and means on the slide and switch effecting actuation of the switch as the slide is reciprocated by the exteriorly disposed handle.

EDWIN W. LANDMEIER. 

